Jacksonville Jaguars: Understanding Shad Khan’s recent moves
By Larry Brake
Team owner Shad Khan is building the Jacksonville Jaguars into a global brand, slowly but surely.
Shad Khan stirred the Jacksonville Jaguars fan base by the announcement of his intent to purchase Wembley Stadium in London, England. The fear, of losing the Jaguars, runs deep in some local fans. Seems like a crazy move after hearing the annual State of the Franchise address.
In the address, the Jaguars released plans for local projects surrounding TIAA Bank Field. Also, the mention of additional revenue streams were not specifically detailed. Since the announcement to buy Wembley, this is where the additional revenue comes from.
John Oehser of Jaguars.com reports Mark Lamping on the potential purchase:
"“Shad owning [Wembley] opens up those revenue streams” and “we no longer will be paying rent, so as far as Jaguars games are concerned … a significant increase in profitability,” Lamping said. *Bringing in revenue from Wembley’s non-NFL events, with Lamping saying approximately 28 of 30 events held at Wembley each year are non-NFL events. “The profitability from the remaining 28 will be profit that we will be able to secure, again creating additional revenue streams to strengthen us in Jacksonville,” Lamping said."
Khan talked about the possibility of playing a Super Bowl in Wembley Stadium. Due to the time difference, the Super Bowl will probably stay in the United States. But think how much revenue the Jaguars would reap if it did happen.
As a sign of great ticket sales, the stadium tarps are permanently removed. Expect to see TIAA Bank Stadium with more Jaguars fans than in seasons past. The deep playoff run and improvement of the Jaguars is the reason behind this, clearly.
Money strapped teams falter in small television markets. Khan is attempting to make the Jaguars a global brand. The additional revenue stream from Wembley makes the Jaguars a better more stable franchise.
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Attracting free agents is getting tougher each year due to each team spending money on facilities. Remember, this is not your grandfather’s NFL. Current NFL players are in shape throughout the year. The latest newest facilities mean commitment to the team. Khan built the indoor practice facility. The new Jaguars uniforms embrace the team’s tradition.
The Jaguars are staying in Jacksonville.